Greater than, less than, and equal to

Three comparison symbols

When we compare numbers we can write the answer with a symbol:

A number sentence with > or < is called an inequality, because the two sides are not equal.

Remembering which way they point

The symbols are like an open mouth, or an arrow pointing at the smaller number.

• The wide, open side faces the bigger number.
• The pointy, closed side faces the smaller number.

Some classes imagine a hungry alligator that always wants to eat the bigger number. However you remember it, the result is the same: big side → big number.

Reading left to right

Always read the sentence from left to right:

• 63 > 36 reads "sixty-three is greater than thirty-six".
• 36 < 63 reads "thirty-six is less than sixty-three".

Both sentences are true; they say the same thing in different ways.

The equals sign

The = sign means both sides have the same value. It does not mean "the answer comes next". So all of these are true:

• 7 = 7
• 3 + 4 = 7
• 7 = 3 + 4
• 2 + 5 = 3 + 4

You can compare sums, too: 6 + 3 > 4 + 4 because 9 > 8.

Worked examples

Example 1: Which symbol goes in 36 ◯ 63?

36 has 3 tens; 63 has 6 tens. 36 is smaller, so the pointy side faces 36: 36 < 63.

Example 2: Fill in: 50 ◯ 50.

They are the same: 50 = 50.

Example 3: Fill in: 4 + 5 ◯ 7.

4 + 5 = 9, and 9 is bigger than 7: 4 + 5 > 7.

Common mistakes

• Pointing the symbol the wrong way. Check that the open side faces the bigger number.
• Reading the sentence right to left. Always start at the left.
• Thinking = means "the answer is". It means "the same as" on both sides.

Try it yourself

Fill in >, < or =.

1. 12 ◯ 21
2. 90 ◯ 19
3. 45 ◯ 45
4. 3 + 3 ◯ 5
5. 10 ◯ 6 + 4

Answers: 1) < 2) > 3) = 4) > 5) =

Quick recap

• is greater than, < is less than, = is equal to.

• The open side always faces the bigger number.
• Read number sentences from left to right.